Sri Lanka Highland Shrew
VU

Sri Lanka Highland Shrew

Suncus montanus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_highland_shrew

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Sri Lanka Highland Shrew faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its montane forest refugia, primarily due to tea plantation expansion and agricultural encroachment into higher elevations. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cool-adapted species into increasingly restricted highland areas. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to any disturbance in its remaining forest fragments.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic shrew inhabits montane forests and grasslands in Sri Lanka's central highlands, typically found at elevations above 1,500 meters. It prefers cool, moist environments with dense vegetation cover and leaf litter that provides both shelter and foraging opportunities for invertebrate prey.

Other threatened species in Soricidae

Bicolored ShrewEN

Bicolored Shrew

Crocidura leucodon

Unknown
Eurasian Water ShrewEN

Eurasian Water Shrew

Neomys fodiens

Unknown
Christmas Island ShrewCR

Christmas Island Shrew

Crocidura trichura

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sri Lanka Highland Shrew classified as Vulnerable?
Sri Lanka Highland Shrew is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Sri Lanka Highland Shrew faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its montane forest refugia, primarily due to tea plantation expansion and agricultural encroachment into higher elevations. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cool-adapted species into increasingly restricted highland areas. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to any disturbance in its remaining forest fragments.
Where does Sri Lanka Highland Shrew live?
Sri Lanka Highland Shrew occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sri Lanka Highland Shrew?
The main threats to Sri Lanka Highland Shrew are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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